5 comments about Poser 7 3D Figure Design and Animation.

1. I had a problem in that I needed to complete a presentation in flash with characters doing athletic movements within a few days. I had previously used Poser3 about 6 years ago and decided to pick up poser 7 (for a very good price from Amazon directly as it happened - about the same as some companies were selling the upgrade for!). Within a couple of days I had the software delivered and characters exported in flash, sitting, running and jumping in my presentation. I would go as far as to say this is (still) the most intuitive interface I have ever used. If you want something to happen you just know how to do it. I know Poser 7 is much more advanced than before with the ability to make characters lip synch and to create detailed faces; you can even skin your own face on to a character, but you can get excellent results with just the basics. It also has a massive library of preset poses and even objects now which was great. The final outcome, I had created a top notch presentation within days. My client was thrilled.
   David Kenyon
   [...]



2. Since owning Poser since version 4; I had to sit on my hands not to order Poser 7 when it first came out. But it you're like me, you've made bad software purchases in the past; and it's best to wait awhile so there's a few patches, etc.
   
   So now's the time to order Poser 7; as they have a new patch that smooths all the bugs and errors. But you have to run it on a XP computer; there's a major Vista problem with Poser 7. E-frontier is trying to get the problem solved; but to be honest it's not a problem with Poser, just Vista.
   
   If you order Poser 7, use XP; it's a great 3d package for the money and using XP, it'll run like a dream!



3. After using this product for a couple of weeks I am happy enough with it. I am actually looking to create my own 3d projects from my drawings and this program is for posing premade objects. Basically this is a dress up doll program, which can be fun and useful. I like the program and it works really great for what it is and once I can create my own objects, I will use them with Poser. There are a lot of objects to buy and get for free to play around with. I'm not unhappy I bought it.



4. I have used poser 5, poser 6, and when poser 7 came out I had to of course get it. I can say I have never been more unhappy with a product then this one. It constantly crashes. I have been helped by E-Frontier only to redo what they tell me to do over and over. This software for Vista is very unstable, and updates from the software developer are slow. I have updated each patch, redo this, redo that.. Load..Set, reset..try...CRASH!! I have a PC that cost more then a good used car, and I am tired of the company telling me..Update your drivers. If your looking for a redenering software..Dont get this if your running Vista. If you are, look at poser 6 or look to a company that beta tests software for future OS before release.



5. i have wanted this product but at the time i bought manga studio...then for my birthday i bought poser 7. It is wonderful. I also bought the books that compliment it Amazon included the names of them on the page with Poser 7 so I looked them up and bought two of them. My hope is for the books I have self-published I want to make my own movie of them and be able to show people my dream.

5 comments about Microsoft Expression Web Upgrade.

1. Having come from Front Page 2000, I was a bit overwhelmed at how complex this program can be if you don't have any other web authoring training (like me). But it came with a "Total Training" DVD that helped quite a bit. And after I found a website called "Expression Web Help," and went through their tutorials, I was really pleased with how flexible and powerful this program is. I can finally make professional looking websites instead of the old ones that scream "I made this with Front Page!"
   
   Ken



2. Another Microsoft Disappointment. After using this program exclusively for the past 8 or 9 months I've gone back to the previous version, Microsoft Front Page 2003.
   
   I love the fact that Expression Web allows one to work on CSS within the program. The split screen is a real plus, allowing the user to view both the design view and code view at once.
   
   Expression Web does not publish properly and never has...publishing errors are the norm.
   Expression Web does not handle included pages properly, and this is a critical area for most Microsoft Front Page users; the user must use an add-on program to handle included pages now.
   It is difficult, at best, to locate things that were used constantly in previous versions of Front Page.
   
   Even after numerous updates, Expression Web still seems to be unstable, which is typical of Microsoft products in general. There are so many fixes to download for all Microsoft products one must wonder how they came to be available to the public in the first place.



3. I am very, very happy with Expression Web.
   FrontPage is dead. And Expression Web must have been produced by a third party vendor. . .I can't believe Microsoft can publish something this good. It actually teaches how to develop and use CSS web pages.
   
   Plus, it has asp and asp.net with database linking capabilities (which are just ahead in my learning curve).
   
   Best of all, it came with training video produced by Total Training.
   The training video is probably a fifty dollar value and really gets you up and running. You will never use FrontPage again.
   
   After using Expression Web for several months, I uninstalled Dreamweaver which was just taking up hard disk space.
   
   Expression Web is a version 1.0 product. I don't have any complaints about it and am still learning it. Recommendation: STRONG BUY



4. When I first received Expression Web, I was nervous about using this program. I have only used Microsoft FrontPage in the past & my experience with web design is really very limited. It took me a few weeks to learn how to use Expression Web, but now I love it!! If you are just getting started I recommend purchasing Expression Web plain & simple and watching as many videos from the Expression Web web site as possible. Check out my web site I created at [...]. I did end up upgrading to Expression Studio & I like working with Expression Design.



5. I purchase this after using Frontpage 2003 for what seems forever! I've gotten good use out of FP, and it has more than paid for itself. But I'm just not sure what to make of Expression Web. I installed it, tried out some of the learning tools, but it just didn't click. I currently use a program that costs me 1/3 the price and has all the features of Expression Web. I also continue to use FP for basic stuff, especially when I need straight HTML programming.
   
   I've gone to MS website and read some of the tutorials, checked out their forum, etc. But it seems as if MS wants me to buy all these add-on's (like Adobe does) to get the program to do what it should already do. Personally, I think I wasted my money on this, and sorry I purchased it.

4 comments about Label Factory Deluxe 3.0.

1. When selecting these products from a page and the page gives you an option to see a larger picture, it would help if that picture gave you a better insite to what the product is capable of doing. I like the lable factory but it is not very easy to navagiate.



2. This product works well for designing labels of all sorts. I've used the previous version of Label Factory and all my labels transferred over to Version 3.0. Also, 3.0 has an expanded set of clip art. Good product.
   Works with Vista.



3. This product solved a problem for me, it was quick to set up, easy to use, and for those who need it has a neat spindle adapter to use with CD and DVD labels.



4. I have been selling incense for several years and my customers who were making the switch to scanning their products asked me to put a bar code on my incense. Label Factory was recommended so I purchased it and it has made it very easy for me accomplish what I needed for my labels. It's easy to download and begin creating. It's user friendly so I was able to quickly design the labels I needed. I use it in tandem with microsft publisher; inserting clip art and word-art gallery when naming my incense. I've never had a problem printing out my designs.
   I think this software is useful for small businesses that need barcodes.

5 comments about AutoCAD LT 2007 [OLD VERSION].

1. I took some time before I bought AutoCAD LT. It was a big investment for an engineer but well-worth the trouble--I am glad I waited. So many improvements, so little time. My first exposure to AutoCAD was filling in for my CAD operator after her untimely lay-off (Companies are usually stupid in these matters.) I rushed to learn AutoCAD 11 so I could fix the drawings. Since then, I have tracked AutoCAD's developments; AutoCAD LT 2007 is even a big improvement over AutoCAD 2004. If you do consulting, you need this software.
   
   Since I spend most of my time in Publishing as an editor for Chemical Processing magazine, I was concerned with compatibility with other software. Afterall, what good is any software if others, who don't have $900 to pay for AutoCAD, can't use what you send them? This dilemma is easily handled by this software. Here was my problem: my production people use Adobe Illustrator, a poor cousin to AutoCAD and designed for magazines only; I am not impressed by software support by Adobe (They hung up on me!). I could not produce quality drawings that production could edit and Powerpoint (What I used before AutoCAD) is a pitiful solution that won't produce quality.With some finagling and emails to experts in AutoCAD (not AutoDesk), I found the solution: convert my files to AuotCAD 2000.DWG files. This worked flawlessly allowing the Illustrator users to edit my drawings---perfect.
   
   I am working my way through several textbooks on AutoCAD to get up to speed. Someday, I will probably want to re-enter engineering and hope to have the skills I need. (See my other reviews for information on some good and bad AutoCAD training material.)
   
   There is one flaw, which I am waiting for AutoCAD to address: the help file. It is terrible! Were it not for the excellent work done so far in this edition, I would dock them a few stars. Here's the trick: just keep hitting cancel when you get the pop-up error window. After half-a-dozen clicks you will find the answers you need in the help file. It's just a pain.
   
   If you are waiting for a good version of AutoCAD to latch onto--- buy this.
   
   One comment to AutoDesk: since you copied several good ideas from Powerpoint why didn't you copy paintbrush? That would be a nice feature.
   
   03/06/07:
   One problem cropped up: customer support on reloads. I went through a bout of hard drive failures during the past 6 months. After the last one, I was told that I had exceeded my limit on downloads. Working through email customer support was useless but the phone support was sucessful in issuing a new authorization code. Just make sure that you keep your receipt. If you buy through Amazon that should be easy; Amazon keeps a record of your purchases.
   
   I hope this review helped. If so, please vote.



2. I've been using AutoCAD (full version) since version 9. I bought the LT version for my draftsman to use works fine for what it does, but LT lacks enough of the things the full version does that I won't buy it again.
   
   The most important thing I use are lisp routines and LT doesn't support that. That reduces my drafting speed substantially. It also doesn't support 3D. While that's not important to me, I sometimes use it to help see parts of a building to make sure everything works together.
   
   Overall, AutoCAD (both full and LT) is a fine program, but they need to keep backwards compatibility. If you can afford $4,000 for the full version, you'd be better off. But if not LT will work in a pinch.



3. AutoCAD 2007 LT is a couple of steps above AutoCAD 2002 as far as ease of use but its still a 2D CAD program which isn't especially too far beyond pencil, compass, and straight edge.



4. Product is as advertised. If you have used previous versions you will be happy with some of the changes.



5. I have used ACAD since version 9, I have used 10, and then LT 97, then I recently upgraded to v 2007... Good solid program, there were some nice enhancements especially since 97, 10 years can do wonders for a a product...
   
   A little more than I would have liked to spend, but it has what my company needs to do some simple drafting...

5 comments about Art Explosion 300,000 Premium Image Collection.

1. The search engine is awful. You must restart between disks. The clip art for the most part is not useable (OK I only checked the weddings / church). The people in the wedding clip art is not something I would send out or use. There is no holiday clip art that I could find. The church clip art is so limited that I can't imagine ever using it. I'm used to doing quality professional material and this will NOT help me. Glad they have a money back guarantee (at least that's something they have that is good that others don't)



2. This image collection may have 300,000 images, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to find any of them, because there is no real guide. The search engine only works on the particular disc that you are using at the time, which may only have six or seven categories. The way the pictures are organized is very confusing, and only useful for those who are very patient and those with lots of time on their hands. I use this with my high school journalism class, and my students are much too impatient to go through every single disc to find the pictures they want. The whole thing is practically useless. Don't buy this. The new version of Art Explosion is much better, because it has a book with the images in it, so you can look it up quickly.



3. I am very pleased with this product. More pictures and images than you could possibly need in every category. I'm very happy with the value for the money.



4. If you bought the older version that came with a book, you won't be happy.
   
   The computer version comes with an awkward reference library that has too few items per page with lousy quality. You have to open all the files to see what's really there. If you need to work fast. Forget it! If you like to put cats and flowers on stationery, it might be OK.
   
   I used the previus 40,000 version on paying projects. The art was easy to find use, color, alter, etc.
   
   After you buy it, you may be unhappy with customer service. After being on hold for 1/2 hour. I got defensive vague answers when asking if the older art was included?...some are! Do you have a pdf or higher quality freference to offer? ...Nope. Can I get my money back? No. Can I speak to a manager? Nope.
   
   Do not buy this book...or any of the art explosions!!!



5. Unless you are looking for 80s people pictures, pixelated images or something that a 4 year old drew in paint, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!! I am a professional graphic and web designer. At work my company subscribes to top-notch photography and clip art. I was looking for something I could use at home... and boy was that software a waste of my money! The images really are horrible if you are looking for something that is at least halfway professional looking. Even my husband, who is no designer, was appalled at the images!!! DO NOT BUY IT!

4 comments about Ars Nova Software Practica Musica 4.5 (Windows/Macintosh).

1. I don't remember ever opening this book, other than to glance at it for this review. However, I did use the computer program that accompanies it for ear training many many times. The program has quite a few glitches, but few that will be a large deterrant for those who want to use it for practice. I thought that the program was an excellent option for those who don't have time for an ear training partner, but need to hear new intervals.



2. I took music theory classes for two years in college, got my undergraduate degree in music, became a professional musician and never felt like I really understood music theory until a fellow musician told me about Practica Musica. The really great thing about using this program is that you can practice and practice and practice each new thing that you learn until you really know it. You always know if you're getting it because the program gives you constant feedback (something I didn't get in school!) This product has really helped me with ear training. When you give an incorrect answer you can compare your answer with the correct one. Hearing the two side by side is very helpful. Practica comes with a great theory book written just to go with the software. It's written for someone who knows nada about music, but it covers just about everything I studied in school and I have to confess that I learned a lot from it.
   I found the software easy to use and I'm not a techie. I haven't tried any of the other music theory software, but my friend uses it to teach music fundamentals at a CC and she told me that it's the best out there. I can believe it.



3. My kids and I have been using this software for over a month. I have it connected to a MIDI piano.
   
   This software allows up to five students to keep track of their progress. One can choose any lesson to start and may switch among different lessons. The software remembers prior progress and picks up where one left off.
   
   For each exercise, points are awarded for correct responses and deducted for incorrect responses. The exercises become harder with higher scores and easier again as the score drops down because of wrong answers. This progressive instruction is very nice.
   
   I found the accompanying book to be very helpful, as I had no prior theory training.
   
   However, the software has limitations:
   The biggest problem is that it requires the user to strictly follow the lesson format. You only get one shot at playing intervals, for example. I like to learn by repeating the item several times before advancing to the next, to reinforce the sound and the relationship with the name. Trying to repeat the last item results in a wrong answer on the next item.
   
   This strict approach also limits exploration and frustrates kids. My kids, ages 10 and 8, don't really like the program and rarely spontaneously use it. My kids really like to learn other stuff on the computer. I would recommend this for kids over the age of 14.
   
   Finally, the lack of keyboard or even MIDI-mediated commands neccessitate constantly moving one's hands from the MIDI keyboard to the mouse, moving the pointer to the right icon and clicking. The mouse should not be necessary to work this program that keyboard oriented.
   
   I did contact tech support for one problem. I sent an email on Sunday afternoon and got a response about an hour later! I thought this was great.



4. I got this package on Ebay for a killer deal and I am glad I did not pay the full price for it.
   
   The strength of the package is that it allows you to view your progress and gives your instructor some degree of control. The weakness is that the program is very confusing to work with and not user friendly.
   
   On the menu you have to choose from a drop down list of activities. The program gives you NO idea of where to start. Which activities should I do first?
   
   The book cancels out some of the confusion. However....the book should have been more practical and more easier to read...too rigid as one person said.
   
   I would not suggest this for the absolute beginner.

5 comments about Movie Edit Pro Twelve.

1. I've been using this program for about six weeks now, and have to say I'm mightily impressed. Although quite skeptical at first (mainly due to the unusually-low price), "Movie Edit Pro 12" has won me over in a big way.
   
   Here are my observations about this software; hopefully it will be of use to potential buyers.
   
   - The manual that accompanies the software is pretty bare-bones. It touches on several key points, and guides the buyer through a few basic steps. For the most part, you'll want to use the included video-tutorials to help speed-up the learning-curve.
   - The video tutorials are quite good indeed (although for some reason they really low-resolution. My first thought on viewing them was "oh crap, the quality is poor... what did I get myself into?")
   - I'm using a PC with Windows XP, Intelduo-core quad with LOTS of extra memory. Uploading videos has been PERFECT, not a single issue there.
   - I'm using this program to edit VHS-captured video and manipulate it heavily. So far I haven't run into many problems at all.
   - I usually run between 2-and-5 lines of visuals simultaneously (with varying fades/video effects) and find that the program is sometimes unable to provide a video-preview of my work. I presume I'm throwing too much at it at once. By scrolling the progress-bar along the top of my project, I'm able to see how it will look even without using the video-preview pane.
   - I was able to easily figure-out most of the editing tools at a leisurely pace in a matter of days. The program is pretty foolproof (the "undo" button is a lifesaver, and hasn't failed me yet!), fairly intuitive, and responsive.
   - As has been mentioned in other comments, YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD THE PATCH from Magix' site in order to properly burn your projects.
   - The time it takes to do a mixdown and burn the DVD (five steps) varies depending on how effects-heavy the visuals are.
   For example, last night I did an 11-minute clip with A LOT of video effects (ie. 'blackbox', 'whitebox', many multiple fades, and up to five layers of visuals simultaneously blending). In all, it took 94 minutes for the program to mixdown and burn those 11-minutes of visuals.
   - Even though the rendering/mixdown/burning of visuals can take a while to process, the results have been quite amazing, IMO.
   
   Overall I'm quite pleased with this program. While the glitchy video-preview is a bit annoying, I find I'm still able to work-around it and produce some excellent work. And I haven't even tried out the audio options yet...!!!
   Recommended, esp. for the price.



2. Completely crashed my computer upon installation.
   Video is choppy, manual is confusing, software is not intuitive, Support will not email validation number, and Magix doesn't answer their phone.
   'Wish I hadn't bought it.



3. I have had the program for a month and it's worth having a windows machine just for this software ;-) I have lot's of experience with iMovie and this is even better.
   
   However, I had a "Media Verification Error" on first running the program (it thought it was a bad CD even though it installed fine) My email I sent from the support site was NEVER even answered. The viocemail left for someone in "Customer Service" was never answered... after 2 weeks I waited through numerous hold times and transfers to nowhere or disconnects, I got through to Patrick in support who had the crappiest attitude of any tech support geek I have ever worked with. Get a new job Pat if it's Soooo bad over there...
   
   He said Yea, it's a problem with the DVD encryption and they have an unlock tool for it (gee you'd think they would have that in the FAQ on the website) He sent me a link to the tool and it finally worked and it said I'd be sent an un-lock code... waited 5 days and no email... more hold time to speak with my buddy Patrick and he said, yea I'll just give it to you over the phone..... no explanation or cares about why no one ever answers their emails...
   
   Program is great but someone who owns the company from Germany needs to kick a little but down in Florida.



4. I have Movie Edit pro 11 and still have yet to receive any return emails or phone calls from customer support. If you listen to any feedback listen to this. Do not buy any product from Majix. Try calling them and find out yourself.Movie Edit Pro 12Magix Entertainment Movie Edit Pro 12



5. I made the mistake of buying blind.... never again! My main problem wasn't really with creating the movie (which is still difficult) but more with the menus. The title pages to select from are terrible. First impression of a movie is from the menu. Not happy at all. Today I'm reading reviews to find another program.

2 comments about Tonka Garage.

1. I played this game about 10 years ago and I loved it. It had tons of neat features and many customization options from what I can remember. I don't remember anything specific about it, but I loved it as a kid, even though I had a defective version. Buy it. NOW.



2. The game info includes XP compatible, but not for the all the games. When you go to test the vehicle that you fixed up, the screen goes black and all you can see is your vehicle. There are a few other areas that don't work all the way. My five-year old loves the game, but is very frustrated that he can't do everything. There is no technical support from anyone as the game is too old.

5 comments about ClipArt&More 3 Million.

1. I got this once and there really aren't any good images on the cd-rom. It is an activation code for clipart.com. I used it for a year and have been able to find a bunch of images using the site. $32 for a year is much better than getting the subscription on the website ($170!!) If you don't mind not having images on a cd-rom then this is decent, just download all you can in a year and burn them to a cd yourself. I find searching on the website easier than trying to hunt something down on a cd anyway.



2. This isn't worth the amount of paper it took to make the box. The box advertises "Search by: Animals, Sports, Science, etc." and makes statements like "Locate the right image fast!" and "Every piece ... is key worded and cross-referenced..." Yet the Windows software and the Mac software provided for looking at and finding images are just file browsers with absolutely no way of finding anything. The file names are also non-descriptive. Many images are identical with slight variations on colors or rotation. My teenager laughed at the images and said that he could draw better and I don't doubt him. This is a true "pig in a poke".



3. Totally agree with the other reviews.
   
   The physical product you receive in the mail is really useless. Disc one contains a software program that should allow you to search the other two discs in the set. Those, by the way, contain wire-framed art (looks rendered back in 1980)and some bad sound effects. So, totally NOT what I was expecting (and thus the poor rating).
   
   This is basically paying $39.95 for a one year membership to a great web site that will cost $169.95 per year thereafter.
   
   Regardless of whether the value is worth what you get (and it probably is), the offer and product are still not clear.



4. I bought this product looking for an inexpensive home clip art collection. What I received was three discs that I basically can't access and a one year subscription to a clip art service I probably won't get my money's worth out of. What an extreme disappointment. The least IMSI could have done was actually stated this is a subscription service you are buying. I will not buy from IMSI again. They don't advertise the truth with their product. I'll stick to Nova. I've bought their product before and they deliver what they advertise. I'll pay the extra money for that. Boy did I get burned!!



5. I just ordered my third set of "Clip Art & More" CD's - it's an annual rite of passage in our home. However, I never even attempt to use the CD's themselves - yes, they're pretty useless. I just want the one-year subscription code to www.clipart.com, which costs $159.95 to purchase but is "free" with software purchase (code included in software purchase). So - I buy the software (this year I found "Clipart 3.0 Million" at a site for 9.98 + 5.00 shipping - took a little hunting but deals are out there) and so for $14.98 I will now have my 2008 yearly subscription to www.clipart.com! Beats paying $160!! Clipart.com is a highly-rated graphics program (#2) in "top ten reviews" and my son and I have used it quite frequently for school projects, etc.

3 comments about Write Brothers Dramatica Pro Win/Mac.

1. This has helped me organize the scenes in my novel.
   
   It's helped me decide which characters I needed to develop my story better.
   
   You not only need a Protagonist, you need (of course) an Antagonist (the Main character, the Impact character) and a Consider Character, Reconsider, Logic, Conscience, etc.
   
   It also makes sense that a good novel has more than one thoroughline, more than one areas of conflict.
   
   I'd give this 5 stars for me, but for others, it may be too bothersome to figure out how it works. I had to read about 500 pages on how to use it, why certain characters are essential, what thoroughlines will work with what, etc. and I still don't feel I know how to use everything this program offers.
   
   I see that there's a book on Amazon, Dramatica: A New Theory of Story (Paperback), that may explain more of how to use this software. You may instead like to write your novel and use books like the Plot Doctor or Scene and Structure and others.
   
   Good luck!



2. I have found Dramatic Pro to be an excellent tool in helping formulate and organize novel-length suspense stories. It's comprehensive and it makes you thoroughly think through the structure and flow of your story. The software does what it claims to do and it is based on successful story components. I've read other individual's reviews that were less than complimentary and I would have to say that their expectations of this software were probably beyond what the software said it could do. No writing software that I know of will lead a writer through the writing process. It's not like greeting card software that lets you pick and choose every element of the creative process and then you just print the result. But what this software does do is challenge you to not forget, and to properly develop, those key ingredients and components in any story that make the difference between one that other people like to see or read or one that gets ho-hum responses. Just learning the importance of having an Impact Character is enough to turn a mediocre story into a much better one. When you analyze successful and unsuccessful books or movies, more than half the time the difference can be traced to the development, or lack of development, of one or more Impact Characters. Dramatica Pro forces you to pay attention to through-lines, problem creation and resolution, and every element that could possibly be part of a story. But this software does require patience and the personal desire to get things properly organized. If you lack patience, then don't buy this software. If you don't like the fact that almost all successful stories have predictable elements, then you will not like this software because it will lead you down a path that you probably don't want to follow. If you have no tolerance for a jargon learning curve, then don't buy it. And if you are looking for a muse to stimulate your creative juices, then you shouldn't even be looking at any computer software - go find a pen pal. In my opinion, Dramatica Pro does what it says it can do and I really like the way it does it.



3. This is only helpful if you are brainstorming a writing project with no real clue on what you want it to be about. I usually have a passion for the story before I write it and have some idea about where I want to go. If you are the type that begin with vague concepts and story ideas this may help you, but don't be surprised if you give up half way through and start writing it freely with out these writing construct and parameters that can at times stifle your story creativity, flow, and passion. It almost reminds me of referring to the APA Manual when I wrote graduate term papers.